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Daily Business Report — May 17, 2011

40 Under 40 Award Deadline

The deadline for submitting nominations for SD METRO’s 40 Under 40 Awards for 2011 is drawing near. You have until May 30 to nominate people you believe are making substantial contributions to their community, their companies, organizations or institutions. You will find a nomination form on the front page of our Website (sandiegometro.com). Fill it out and submit. Editor’s Tip: Describe your nominee in depth. Give plenty of examples of major accomplishments.

SDSU to Get New Student Housing and Retail

California State University trustees have approved plans for a mixed-use housing and retail development adjacent to San Diego State University that will house up to 1,600 students and a grocery store, restaurant and other retail shops designed for both the campus and the community. Plaza Linda Verde, as it is called, is to be located immediately south of the SDSU Transit Center. It is to be built in two phases, the first one to include housing for 600 students and up to 45,000 square feet of retail shops, the second phase to include housing for 1,000 additional students and another 45,000 square feet of retail space. Campus officials said construction of the first phase could start as early as 2013 “as soon as market and enrollment conditions allow.”

To build the second phase, however, SDSU would need to purchase additional land that is not now in the university’s master plan boundary. But Cal State trustees approved a change to the master plan to include property south of SDSU, between Aztec Walk and Montezuma Road, which would be needed for the second phase. “For the past 20 years, SDSU and neighbors in the College Area community have shared the goal of revitalizing the blighted area south of the Transit Center,” said SDSU President Stephen Weber. “The approval of Plaza Linda Verde represents an important step forward in achieving this goal, and will provide a dynamic new gateway between the campus and the community.”

Despite slower growth in enrollment in recent years, campus officials said demand for on-campus housing remains high and research shows that students who live on campus receive a higher GPA and graduate faster than their peers. They say Plaza Linda Verde will help to meet that demand.

The retail component of Plaza Linda Verde will include a community grocery store, a restaurant and other retail shops. While specific vendors have not yet been identified, the university would like to entice a grocery store similar to Trader Joe’s and a national brand, full-service restaurant, such as Chili’s. A parking structure will be constructed to serve retail customers.

“The Plaza Linda Verde project reflects the wishes of the community, the needs of the student population and the type of project we in the College Area Business District hope to see more of in the future,” said Jennifer Finnegan, executive director of the College Area Economic Development Corp.

The overall development will have wide sidewalks, tree-lined streets, open space and bicycle amenities and its location next to the transit center will increase transit ridership and create less reliance on autos, according to campus officials.

United States University, San Diego, Moves to Chula Vista

United States University, San Diego, a student-centered institution for working adults, has moved from its original location in National City to a new 30,000-square-foot campus at 830 Bay Blvd. in Chula Vista. University officials said the new facility provides more space for an institution that has experienced a 400 percent increase in enrollment since January 2010. “The new location is not only magnificent in its design, the larger space allows us to continue to keep the size of our classes small so students can get one-on-one academic attention,” said Yoram Neumman, president and CEO. Prior use of the building was 6,000 square feet of office space with a 24,000-square-foot warehouse. “It is a complete transformation from an industrial use to a first class school facility,” said Jeff Silberman, the president and chief executive officer of Carleton Management, the property manager. Caliber Construction was the builder. The architect was Roberts Bennett Norton. The new campus features classrooms and offices with high ceilings, several laboratories and a theater-style auditorium that seats more than 100. The campus employs 42 persons and the university plans to fill several full- and part-time faculty positions. The university is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

Center Pointe Business Park is Sold

Center Pointe Business Park

Center Pointe Business Park in El Cajon, a multi-tenant property built in 2001, has been sold to an affiliate of Westport Capital Partners LLC for an undisclosed price. The seller was Centerpointe I and Centerpointe II. Located at 1280, 1290, 1300 and 1400 North Johnson Ave. and 750 and 900 Vernon Way, the property consists of six buildings totaling 245,101 square feet. The project is situated blocks from Interstate 8, Parkway Plaza and the Gillespie Field Airport. Bryce Aberg and Brant Aberg of Cassidy Turley BRE Commercial and James Renner and Robbie Cornell of Inland Pacific Commercial Properties represented both the seller and buyer in the transaction.

Arden Realty Names V.P. of Leasing

Don Trapani has been promoted from senior portfolio leasing manager to vice president of leasing for Arden Realty Inc.’s San Diego portfolio. Trapani has been with Arden for more than six years assisting with the leasing of the regional portfolio that includes 18 properties, totaling just over 2 million square feet. He has negotiated more than 2.5 million square feet of new and renewal leases, primarily in San Diego, but also in the Seattle, Salt Lake City, Phoenix and Orange County markets.

Joubin Rahimi Joins First Republic Bank

Joubin Rahimi has joined First Republic bank as relationship manager in San Diego. Rahimi has 11 years of financial services experience and is located in First Republic’s office at 12626 High Bluff Drive. Prior to joining First Republic, Rahimi worked for Comerica Bank in San Diego as a private banker. Before that, he worked for Bank of America and Wells Fargo Bank. Rahimi earned a bachelor’s degree from San Diego State University.

Small Business Workshops

SCORE San Diego continues its series of low-cost workshops. Fees range from $29 to $109, depending on the program. To register online, visit score-sandiego.org. For more information, call (619) 557-7272.

May 18 –Internet Marketing 301: Increase Sales Through Pay-Per-Click – 9 a.m. to noon at National University in Kearny Mesa (9388 Lightwave Ave., San Diego 92123; pre-paid registration $49, $59 at the door).

May 21 –Introduction to Starting Your Own Business – 9 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. at National University in Kearny Mesa (9388 Lightwave Ave., San Diego 92123; pre-paid registration $69, $79 at the door).

May 21 –Internet Marketing 101: Use the Internet to Successfully Market Your Business – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at National University in Kearny Mesa (9388 Lightwave Ave., San Diego 92123; pre-paid registration $69, $79 at the door).

May 23 –Restaurant 201 – 9 a.m. to noon at National University in Carlsbad (705 Palomar Airport Road, San Diego 92011; pre-paid registration $49, $59 at the door).

May 24 –Marketing & Contracting with State & Local Governments – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at National University in Kearny Mesa (9388 Lightwave Ave., San Diego 92123; pre-paid registration $69, $79 at the door).

May 25 –QuickBooks Advanced – 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at National University in Kearny Mesa (9388 Lightwave Ave., San Diego 92123; pre-paid registration $69, $79 at the door).

May 25 –How to Start a Nonprofit – 9 to 11:30 a.m. at The San Diego Foundation in Point Loma (2508 Historic Decatur Road, #200, San Diego 92106; pre-paid registration $39, $49 at the door).

May 26 –Internet Marketing 302: Develop a Winning Email Marketing Success Strategy – 9 a.m. to noon at National University in National University in Carlsbad (705 Palomar Airport Road, San Diego 92011; pre-paid registration $49, $59 at the door).

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Voice Your Opinion

We Want Your Opinions on San Diego’s Big Issues
In the coming months, Probosky Research (one of California’s leading opinion research firms) will continue its partnership with SD METRO to survey San Diego residents about topics of interest to our readers. We’d like to throw open the door for suggestions for topics. What do you want to know? What do you think you know, but aren’t sure? What are you certain you know, but want to prove it beyond doubt? Ideally, we’d like to see questions that have to do with public policy.
Some areas may include Mayor Filner’s first 100 days job performance, should the city be responsible for economic growth and the creation of new jobs, how important are infrastructure improvements to our daily lives (streets and bridges, etc.), how important is water independence, how satisfied are residents with public transit or how do city residents value Balboa Park and other open spaces? Do you believe the City Council should revive the Plaza de Panama plan for Balboa Park?
You can email Probolsky Research directly with your ideas: info@probolskyresearch.com